Cinematic Kujawy and Pomorze. Meeting with Łukasz Simlat and Piotr Głowacki at the Copernicus Library
Both popular actors appear in the television adaptation of Zmora (Nightmare), based on the novel by Toruń writer Robert Małecki. The two actors, together with the author, will meet audiences on Friday (13 November) at the Copernicus Library.
The meeting and discussion at the library on 8 Słowackiego Street in Toruń will be hosted by Joanna Chrzanowska. The event begins at 6:00 p.m.
“Together with our guests, we will take a look behind the scenes of the HBO Max production. We will discuss the work involved in creating the series, the challenges of adapting literature for the screen, and the differences between creating characters on the pages of a novel and bringing them to life in front of the camera,” the organisers explain. “Our guests will share memories from the film set, talk about their acting experiences and literary inspirations. We will discover Zmora from two different perspectives: that of the author who created the story and those of the actors who gave it its screen identity.”
Friday’s event has been co-financed from the budget of the regional government as part of the Year of Kujawsko-Pomorskie People of Cinema. Admission is free, but entry passes are required. They can be collected from the lending department of the Copernicus Library at 8 Słowackiego Street or reserved via the Gwiazdozbiór Kryminalny website.
The HBO Max Series Features a Star-Studded Cast
Zmora is inspired by Robert Małecki’s 2021 crime novel. The series has been available on the HBO Max platform since 2 October. The story is set in Toruń, both in the present day and during the 1980s and 1990s. Filming took place in several locations, including Toruń’s Old Town in autumn 2024.
“Controversial journalist Kama Kossowska returns to her hometown of Toruń. Her return sets off an avalanche of memories and questions that have remained unanswered for years,” reads the official synopsis. “When Commissioner Tomasz Korcz reopens the case of the disappearance of Piotrek, Kama’s childhood friend, she becomes involved in the investigation. With every new lead, the boundary between past and present begins to blur, and long-buried secrets demand to be revealed.”
The lead role of the journalist is played by Magdalena Cielecka. The cast also includes other well-known names such as Łukasz Simlat, Toruń-born Piotr Głowacki, Piotr Żurawski, Aleksander Krupa, Maria Pakulnis, Katarzyna Bujakiewicz, and Piotr Jankowski.
Alongside these established stars appear younger actors Oliwia Gołębiowska, Eryk Wróbel, and Olgierd Blecharz. Guest appearances are made by Michalina Łabacz and Sławomira Łozińska.
It is worth noting that Łukasz Simlat is a recipient of the Pola Negri Film Award of the Marshal of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region. He received the award in early July at the closing ceremony of the 24th Tofifest International Film Festival. The actor has fond memories of the festival, as he left Toruń in 2020 with a Golden Angel Award for creative independence.
That same year, he received the prestigious Polish Film Award (Eagle Award) for his supporting role as Father Tomasz in Jan Komasa’s Corpus Christi. His acclaimed performance in Sezony (Seasons), directed by Michał Grzybowski, earned him the Pulsar Award in 2025, presented by the Polish Actors’ Trade Union in the category of “inspiring screen actor”. The film was produced in partnership with the Kujawy Pomorze Film Fund.
Other recipients of the Marshal’s Film Award
Toruń-born Piotr Głowacki has also appeared in productions supported by the Kujawy Pomorze Film Fund, including Piernikowe serce (Gingerbread Heart, 2025), Morderstwo w filharmonii (Murder at the Philharmonic, 2026), and Magiczny kwiat paproci (The Magic Fern Flower, premiere scheduled for 2027).
The screenplay for Zmora was written by Kacper Wysocki and Adam Guziński. The series is directed by Łukasz Jaworski, with cinematography by Maciej Sobieraj.
Dariusz Czołgowski
Department of Promotion
10 November 2026